1Masters, give
unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a
Master in heaven.

Introduction:

In my opinion, this verse
is actually part of the previous passage (Colossians
3:18-25): The chapter divisions were not put in place until about 1,300
years after the letters were written, and there is no evidence that the chapter
and verse divisions are divinely inspired, though they are very handy as points
of reference. It seems to me that this verse belongs with the previous chapter,
as it simply completes the train of thought begun there. (The next verse completely
changes the subject and the context.)

Authority and
Responsibility

The pattern of submission
to authority (and the responsibility that goes with authority) was being laid
out, and, as fathers were given the responsibility to respond well to the needs
of their children, the masters (we could read “employers”, in today’s world)
are responsible to God, that they treat their employees well, and equally.
There is not to be harsh treatment, nor favoritism. An employer is to remember
that he is under the hand of God, and will be held accountable for his actions
toward his employees.

Bear in mind that, in the culture and time where this was written,
slavery was still rampant. Indeed, we, in Western civilization, seem to think
that slavery was eradicated 150 years ago. Nothing could be further from the
truth. Within Africa and Asia, in many places, slavery not only continues, but
has increased, to the extent that we are now told that there are more slaves in
the world than at any time in history. This is sad, but true.

We seem to be more concerned about the wrongs of 150-200 years ago
than we are about those that are happening at this very moment. Perhaps we need
to change our focus: If someone were drowning in a pool, right in front of us,
we would not scoff and say “That’s nothing! Over a thousand
people drowned in the sinking of the Titanic!” We would focus on the need at
hand. We need to do that in terms of social injustices as well. We can’t undo
history, nor should we deny it; but we can try to correct our current faults.

I think it would be
proper to use this principle, of the responsibility of authority, to
temper the “authority” aspect of relationships across the board. Yes, it is
specifically referring to master/slave relations, or, in today’s world, employer/employee
relations… but, notice that God had already hinted about the mutuality of such
relationships, in commanding that fathers not “provoke” their children to
wrath, or “exasperate” them, as some translations handle the passage. Doesn’t
it follow that all such relationships carry an aspect of mutual
responsibility? I think it probably does.

Further, there is the
fact that it is unreasonable (and spiritually impossible) to assign responsibility
to someone who has not been given authority to make decisions. One more point:
ultimately, while we can “delegate authority” we cannot
delegate responsibility. I may delegate authority to someone else to do my job
(child-rearing, for example), but the results were still my responsibility,
and God will hold me accountable for those results.

Christ and the Church

We are told in Ephesians 5:21-33 that the husband wife
relationship, specifically, is a picture of Christ and the Church. In several
passages, the husband is commanded to Love his wife as Christ loves the
Church. (Agape Love) He is also told that he is to treat her compassionately,
and with honor…and, that, if he does not, then his prayers will be hindered.
(This is an interesting connection: if I am not dealing correctly and kindly
with those under my care, then God will limit how He responds to me, as well! 1st Peter 3:7) We are to
extend this principle throughout our lives. There is not a “chain of command”,
in the sense that one has to go through his or her supervisor to get to God;
quite the opposite! God’s authority (and His care) reaches across all levels
of authority, and He is accessible to all who approach Him for who He is. (Hebrews 11:6 states that it is impossible
to please God without faith: those who approach Him must believe that He
exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him diligently.)

God does not
obligate Himself to answer the prayers of those who reject Him. He says that we
are not
His children by nature, but that we become His children through the new
birth. (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:1-3; John
3:3, ff; John 1:12; 1st Peter 1:23) Finally, He also says He will
not hear even His children, when we persist in rebellion and stubborn self-will
(Psalm 66:18.)

But as members of the Body
of Christ (as explained in 1st
Corinthians 12:12, 13) we are all directly connected to the Head. His
will is made clear in the scriptures, and by His Holy Spirit, and no
one has to ask another person for a word from God. We are all directed to approach
the throne freely and personally. Each believer is a priest,
in the Body of Christ!

The Pattern of Authority and Responsibility

Parental Authority and Responsibility

The fact that Fathers are
warned to not exasperate their children does not exculpate women who are
abusive toward their children. If either a father or a mother (or both) are
dealing harshly with their children, then they are in trouble with God. We can
look to see how God deals with his children, in Psalm 103:10-14. He is tender and compassionate toward those who
fear Him, recognizing our frailty, and our innate inability to function at a Godly
level. Jesus clearly told his disciples that, apart from Him, they could do
nothing…and He meant it literally. (John
15:5)

Civil Authority

Civil authority is
ordained by God for the good of society, and God says we are to submit
ourselves to that authority. Notice again, that they are ordained by God to provide
a necessary, beneficial service…and we are accountable to them, even if they
are not acting in accordance with their built-in accountability to God. God will deal
with them.

Spiritual Leaders

God lays out the
responsibilities of shepherds in Ezekiel
34:1-10, as well as in Acts 20:28-31,
and is quite clear that He will hold them personally
accountable for either laxity or wrongdoing. He tells us to submit to their
authority (Hebrews 13:17,) but also
tells us to search the scriptures to evaluate whether we are being led astray.
We are not to be led astray by false teachers. Very stern warning is
given to this matter. (Ephesians 4:13-15;
2nd Peter 2, Galatians 1:6-9)

Conclusion:

So, what can we get from
this whole passage? For one thing, we can see the pattern of authority,
submission to authority, and responsibility of those in authority. Faith
tells me to believe God, that HE will be the one to hold those
people accountable if they are guilty of nonfeasance or malfeasance of their
duties. Many of the rulers in history, who were most wicked, were never “tried
and convicted” in a human court. Some lived out a very full and evil life:
others were cut short, either by God’s judgment (see the death of Herod the
tetrarch, Acts 12:23), or by assassination
(see the death of Sennacherib, 2nd
Chronicles 32:21). But in either case, it always seems that they did not really
get their “comeuppance.” That they suffered a short, possibly ugly, death, and
were gone, whereas the millions who died under their reigns of terror, suffered
and died without help, and they seem to remain unavenged.

Read Psalm 73:1-21: We can see that the psalmist was grieved for the
same reason we are: he saw that the wicked seemed to have a great life and an
easy death. He was beginning to question the value of living a Godly, temperate
life, and was on the verge of becoming quite bitter, until he went into the
temple, and God revealed to him that the thing that really mattered was not
the short time of a man’s life on earth, but the eternal result of that life,
afterward. He says (verses 17-20)
that their lives have been a slippery slope leading to eternal terror, and
punishment. Hell is eternal, just as Heaven is eternal. We all face eternity,
one way or another.

It is easier to accept
the damage we may have received through abusive authorities, whether parents, teachers,
civil authorities, church rulers, or employers, if we bear in mind that God has
never forgotten anything in the history of the Universe, except his deliberate forgetfulness
toward the sins of those who have trusted in Him as their Savior. The pain that
he suffered at the Cross was God accepting the loss and damage we
caused by our sins. That is what it cost Him to provide for our forgiveness. We
can either accept the loss and damages we have suffered, as we seek to imitate the
savior, or… we can stay bitter. But,bitterness is sin.
(Ephesians 4:31)

But if we choose to see
those violators as precious souls for whom Jesus shed His blood, then it is easier
to forgive them, and pray for their salvation, instead of yearning for
vengeance. And if we are the one in authority, then we need to make sure we never
abuse that authority.

The result should be that we lead lives
characterized by the peace of God.

Lord
Jesus, help us to see all those around us through Your eyes, and to see those
you have placed in authority as being under your hand. Teach us to extend Grace
to all around us, whether they seem to be a blessing or a curse to us. Let us
lead others to Your Cross, and salvation.